Drum major&#39;s baton



Filed Dec. 175, 1937 m T N 3mm mm rm WW m R M WY r/B I m l,

Patented Feb. 14, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DRUM MAJ OBS BATDN of Indiana Application December 13, 1937, Serial No. 179,449

11 Claims.

This invention relates to drum majors batons, and is illustrated in a relatively long baton having a generally spherical head at one end.

An object of the invention is to provide a baton of this type which is of pleasing appearance and the finish of which is protected against injury. To this end the head of the baton is provided with a cover of rubber material, the cover preferably being exteriorly formed with parallel ribs one of which is in the central plane of the head which extends perpendicularly relative to the baton axis. The cover extends beyond this central plane, so that it has to be stretched to pull it over the head and therefore maintains itself resiliently in place. The illustrated baton also has a cupshaped cap of rubber material embracing a metal ferrule at its other end.

Another object is to provide a cover Which will facilitate manipulation of the baton, such as bouncing it endwise on a pavement, without injury.

The above and other objects and features of the invention, including various novel combinations and arrangements, will be apparent from the following description of the illustrative embodiment shown in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the baton body;

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof with the two end covers in place;

Figure 3 is a View partly broken away and on a larger scale, the lower half being the same as Figure 2 and the upper half being in vertical central section;

Figure 4 is a side elevation on a larger scale of a portion of a baton equipped with a modified form of end protection; and

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

The baton proper, as shown in Figure 1, may consist of a highly-finished elongated generallycylindrical body In (usually of wood), having at one end a metal cap or ferrule l2 mounted thereon (and shown as held by means such as a screw l4). Over the ferrule I2 is seated syrup-shaped protector of rubber material l8. The protector I8 is small enough so that it contracts resiliently upon the ferrule l2 when in place.

At its other end the baton body I0 is integrally formed with a generally-spherical head 20, which is preferably highly finished. This head is protected by a cover 22 of rubber material. This cover extends past the central plane which passes through the center of the head perpendicular to the axis of the body l0, and consequently must be stretched to pull it over the head 20; it therefore resiliently grips the head 20 when it is in place.

Preferably the cover 22 is formed with a series of parallel encircling ribs 24, in planes perpendicular to the baton axis, and one of which is relatively wide and in the central plane of the head, so that when lying on its side the baton rests on this Wide rib and on the protective cap I8. The ribbed mouth of this cover encircles head 29 and parallels the ribs 24. 10

The cover is formed at its axis with a protruding button 30, and with an adjacent rib 32 paralleling the ribs 24. The button 30 permits such manipulations as bouncing the baton endwise off a pavement, without injury, the rubber of the button flowing sufiiciently into the space between the button and the rib 32 to give the necessary resilience. When the baton is leaned against something when not in use, it rests either on the button 30 or the rib 32. 20

The cover !8 and the cover 22 are readily removable, but are themselves of pleasing appearance and need not be removed when the baton is used.

In order to make the appearance of the as- 25 sembly harmonious, the head 20 may be formed near its junction with the body I!) with an encircling shoulder 28 paralleling the ribs 24.

In the modification of Figures 4 and 5, in which corresponding parts have the same reference numerals plus I08, the main diiference is that the cover I22 is provided with ribs I24 which extend longitudinally of the head 20 and are of more or less segmental form and which are evenly spaced circumferentially of the head. The ribs are close enough together so that the baton rests on them when lying on its side. It is obvious that this modification provides substantially the same protection to the baton as the previously described modification. Preferably the ribs are connected by thin webs of the rubber material, to make a complete cover.

While two illustrative embodiments have been described in detail, it is not my intention to limit the scope of the invention to those particular embodiments, or otherwise than by the terms of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A drum majors baton or the like comprising an elongated baton body of generally cylindrical form having at one end a generally spherical head, and a rubber cover for said head extending past the central plane of the head perpendicular to the axis of the baton body and formed with a series of parallel ribs on its exterior and one of which is in said central plane and having a ribbed mouth encircling said head and paralleling said ribs.

2. A drum majors baton or the like comprising an elongated baton body of generally cylindrical form having at one end a generally spherical head, and a rubber cover for said head extending past the central plane of the head perpendicular to the axis of the baton body.

3. A drum majors baton or the like comprising an elongated baton body of generally cylindrical form having at one end a generally spherical head, and a rubber cover for said head extending past the central plane of the head perpendicular to the axis of the baton body and formed with a series of parallel ribs on its exterior and one of which is relatively wide and arranged in said central plane and having a ribbed mouth encircling said head and paralleling said ribs.

4. A drum majors baton or the like comprising an elongated baton body of generally cylindrical form having at one end a generally spherical head, and a rubber cover for said head extending past the central plane of the head perpendicular to the axis of the baton body and formed with a series of parallel ribs on its exterior and one of which is in said central plane and having a ribbed mouth encircling said head and paralleling said ribs, said head having a peripheral shoulder adjacent said body and paralleling the ribs and the and paralleling the ribs and the edge of said cover.

6. A drum majors baton or the like comprising an elongated baton body of generally cylindrical form having at one end a generally spherical head and a rubber cover for said head extending past the central plane of the head perpendicular to the axis of the baton body and formed with a series of parallel ribs on its exterior and one of which is in said central plane.

'7. A drum majors baton having at its end a generally spherical head provided with a cover of rubber material having a protruding button of such material at the end of the baton.

8. A drum majors baton having at its end a generally spherical head provided with a cover of rubber material having a protruding button of such material at the end of the baton, and havinga rib encircling said cover adjacent said button in a plane perpendicular to the baton axis.

9. A drum majors baton having at its end a generally spherical head provided with a cover of rubber material having a protruding button of such material at the end of the baton and having a rib encircling said cover adjacent said button in a plane perpendicular to the baton axis, and also having a rib paralleling the first rib and arranged in the central plane of said head.

10. A drum majors baton or the like comprising an elongated baton body of generally cylindrical form having at one end a generally spherical head and a rubber cover for said head extending past the central plane of the head perpendicular to the axis of the baton body and formed with a series of circumferentially spaced longitudinal segmental ribs.

11. A drum majors baton having at its end a generally spherical head provided with a cover of rubber material having a protruding button of such material at the end of the baton, and having longitudinal segmental ribs extending from said button.

FREDERICK W. MILLER. 

